Wrench



Dec. 4 1923. 7 1,476,341

G. F. LE BUS ET AL,

WRENCH Filed July 15 1922 4 Sheets-She et 1 l/V ENTURS W/T/VES E8 GE Lo.us

'siL .LQ Bus,

Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,341

G. F. LE BUS ET AL WRENCH Filed July 15. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYSDec. 4, 1923. 1,476,341

G. F. LE BUS ET AL WRENCH Filed July 15. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nmummmumm10 I g I mill INVENTORS G1, Le Ems,

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

g ween UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FRANKLIN LE BUS AND FRANKLIN LEYBURN LE BUS, OF ELECTRA, TEXAS.

WRENCH.

Application filed July 15, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. LE Bus and FRANKLIN L. Ln BUS, citizensof the United States, and residents of Electra, in the county of Wichitaand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches especially adapted for use inconnection with sectional drill stems employed in wells.

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide atwin wrench comprising upper and lower wrenches which may be applied tothe stem as a unit entirely by one man thereby bringing about asubstantial saving in time and labor.

A further object is to provide a twin wrench which will be held in a setposition during its application to the drill stem so that the rotaryparts of the wrench will not swing freely and thereby retard theconnection of the wrench to the drill stem.

A further object is to provide a twin wrench having novel means wherebythe upper and lower wrenches may separate as the coupling is separatedfrom the upper section of the drill stem.

A further object is to provide a twin au tomatic wrench of the characterspecified which will not damage the drill stem and which will not be asource of danger to the attendant.

Further the invention forming the subject matter of this applicationaims to provide a double wrench which will act automatically upon beingapplied to the drill stern and which will tightly engage the drill stemwhen the wrench is rotated by means of the usual drilling rotary.

A further object is to provide a twin wrench of the character specifiedwhich is of highly simplified construction, durable in use and cheaptomanufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part "of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench applied.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper section of the wrench. thereleasing handle of the lower wrench also being shown.

Serial No. 575,222.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the handle of theupper wrench and a locking member therefor.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the wrench, I

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view illustrating the lower section of-thewrench, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 10 is a perspective of a guide bracket embodied in the invention.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates adrilling stem which consists of a plurality of sections joined by meansof threaded couplings and as is well known when removing the drill stemfor the purpose of changing the drill hits the various sections of thedrill stem are separated. This practice ordinarily requires two separatewrenches and an attendant for each wrench and as previously stated, thisoperation is dangerous to the operator.

In carrying out the invention, I provide an apparatus consisting ofupper and lower wrenches which may be simultaneously thrown onto thedrill stem and gripped with the coupling and one of the sections. Theupper wrench consists of upper and lower plates 6 joined by means of aconnecting bolt 7 and additional bolts 8. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate thatthe bolts 8 are extended through the forward portions of the plates 6while the single bolt 7 is extended through the intermediate portions ofthe plates 6.

In carrying out the invention the upper and lower plates 6 are formedwith guide flanges 10 along their longitudinal edges and grippingmembers 11 are confined be tween the flanges, the said gripping memherebeing rectangular and having along each edge thereof teeth adapted to beengaged with a drill stem. The specific formation of the grippingmembers 11 is clearly illustrated in Figure 6 wherein one of thegripping members is shown as being confined between the longitudinallyextending flanges 10. it will be observed. that the gripping members 11may be readily adjusted so as to present a good set of teeth to thework.

The upper wrench and in fact the lower wrench also is provided with twopipe gripping members arranged in superposed relation as illustrated inFigure l. Each gripping member 11 is slidable between the flanges and isprovided with a centrally arranged opening 13 to rotatably' receiveeccentrics 1d carried by the upper handle The eccentrics oi which thereare two are located on opposite sides the handle and when the handle isrotated the eccentrics will move the gripping members 11 into engagementwith the pipe. It might be stated that the bolt 7 passes through theeccentrics 14c and acts as more or less oi a pivot for the same.vention, the upper handle 15 is held in a stationary position by a deadpost arranged at a point beyond the drilling machine and the rotation ofthe lower about by the drilling machine.

Figures 2 and lillustrate that the plates 6 have their forward endsrecessed to receive the drill stem and the forward ends of the platespivotally support longitudinally curved holding jaws 17 and 18 throughthe medium of the pivot bolts 16. Figure 6 illustrates that the holdingaw 18 is provided with upper and lower ears between which the reduced teniinal portion 19 o'lthe other jaw is arranged.

Previous to applying the wrench to the drill stem, the jaws 17 and'18are swung outwardly so that the tongues 20 on the inner ends of the samewill be engaged by the drill stein when the wrench is applied. When thetongues 20 are thus engaged with the pipe the holding jaws 17 and 18 areswung about the drill. stem to occupy the position illustrated in Figur2 whereupon the teeth of the plates 6 are engaged with the pipe.

As the drill stem enters the socket formed by the holding members the:reduced terminal portion 19 of the holding jaw 17 is engaged with alocking latch 22 pivoted-to the jaw 18 as indicated at 23. The terminalportion of the part 19 is provided'with a shoulder as which is engagedwith a. shoulder formed on the inner portion of the lock ing latch 22whereupon the outward movement of the members 17 and 18 is prevented. Incarrying out the invention, the freeend portion of the locking latch 22is provided with a socket 25 to receive the forward portion of a lockinglever 26, the said locking lever being urged to the position illustratedIn the use of the insuch is brought in Figure 2. by means oi a. spring2-7. The soring 27 is received within a socket in the side of theholding jaw 18 and urges the lever outwardly to its operative position.

V7 hen it is desired to release the holding jaws 17 and 18 the handle ofthe lever 26 is moved in the direction of the wrench whereby to swingthe locking latch 22 outwardly. This action breaks the positiveconnection between the jaws 17 and 1S and permits the same to swingcutwarc ly for the release of the wrench from the drill stem.

It is desirable to rigidly connect the upper handle 15 to the body ofthe wrench during the application of the same and therefore a connec glatch is slidably connected to the underside of the lower plate 6 by aguide bracket 29. Figure l illustrates that the connecting latch orsliding bolt 28 is movable longitudinally of the wrench and has itsforward end normally disposed beyond the working teeth or" the plate 11so as to be en gaged by the-pipe prior to the engagement of the teethwith the pipe. When the wrench is being applied, the "forward end of thesliding bolt 28 will be engaged with the pipe and the bolt will beretracted =thereby. The rearward movement of the sliding bolt 28releases the upwardly directed lug 33 from a socket formed ina'diagonally extending rib 3d of the handle. It is believed to be quiteapparent from Figure 1 that when the sliding bolt 28 is in the advancedposition that the lug 33 is locked to the rib 34 and consequently thehandle is rigidly connected to the body of the wrench. This greatlyfacilitates the attachment of the wrench to the drill stem. The lockingbolt or sliding bolt 28 is urged to its advanced position by means of acoiled spring 37 having its terminal portions received in the forwardside of the guide bracket 29 and the rear end of a projection 40 on thesliding bolt. When the sliding bolt 28 is forced rearwardly, it movesagainst the tension oi the coiled spring 37.

The lower wrench comprises upper and lower pla es and connected in meansof a centrally 1 and a "flanged pivot boil pair of pivot bolts 53extcndin through the forward portion of the 'ole. s The plates 50 and 51which a "e arranges in superposed relation are provided along theirlongitudinal edges with guide fla ges 5% between whichpipe grippingmembers are slidably arranged. I i

The pipe gripping members 55 are similar in construction to the grippingmembers 11 and are provided with centrally arranged openings forthereception or" eccentrics 56. The eccentrics 56 of which there are twoare located on opposite sides of the handle 58 and are provided withaligned openings for the reception of the pivot bolt 52 which alsopasses through the plates 50 and 51. In the use of the invention, thehandle 55 which is considerably shorter than the handle 15 isengagedwith one of the rotary elements of the rotary drilling machineand the movement of the handle causes the eccentrics 56 to advance theplate 55 into engagement with the drill stem.

Figure 5 illustrates that the forward portions ofthe plates 50 and 51are provided with recesses to receive the drill stem and to provide carswhich are pivotally connected to holding jaws GO and 81, the saidholding jaws being pivoted to the plates 50 and 51 through the medium ofthe pivot bolt 53. I p The holding jaws 60 and 61 have their innerportions formed with curved tongues 68 and 69 which are engaged by thepipe stem .t'or swinging the outer portions of the holding jaws 60 and61 inwardly about the pipe, as illustrated in Figure 1.

When the outer portions of the jaws 60 and 61 are swung inwardly, thereduced terminal portion 72 of one of the jaws is received within arecess 73 in the jaw 60 and the shoulder 7 4 on the outer portion of thereduced part 72 is engaged by a holding latch 75 whereby to securelyhold the same in position.

At this point the locking handle 76 is turned on its pivot 77 so as toengage the extension or cam 78 on the forward end thereof with the innerportion of the latch 75. When the latch 75 is thus engaged by the cam 78 the hooked or shouldered terminal portion 72 is securely held inengagement with the jaw 60. j The handle 76 is in turn held in eitherone of two positions by means of a spring 80 confined within telescopicbarrels or sleeves 81', one of the sleeves being pivoted as indicated at82 to the jaw 60 while the other sleeve is pivoted as indicated at 84 tothe ear85 of "the handle 76. Vhen the handle 76 is released it is swungto the position illustrated in Figure 5 and when the handle is set itoccupies the position illustrated in F ig. 2 so as to hold the jaws inengagement with the work.

A rotatable and expansible connection is provided between the upper andlower wrenches so that one of the wrenches may rotate with relation tothe other and so that the wrenches may separate as the pipe section isturned off the coupling.

The upper wrench is provided with a depending collar 180 having one sideopen as indicated at 181 for the reception of a drill stem asillustrated in Figure 1. The depending collar 180 also has its lowerside open for the reception or" the upstanding collar 188 carried by tnelower wrench. Figure 4. illustrates that the upper and lower collars areslidably connected and that the lower collar is open also for thereception of the drill stem.

The lower portion of the collar 180 is provided with an outwardlydirected flange 185 to which a retaining flange 186 is bolted and itwill be seen that the retaining flange 186 which is of horse-shoeformation extends inwardly beyond the inner side of the collar 180 androtatably supports an arcuate strip 87 to which a plurality ofupstanding lugs 89 are connected. The upwardly extending lugs 89 arearranged in spaced relation and are slidable through flanges 90 and 91carried by the inner collar. Further the coiled springs 92 are confinedbetween the lower flange 90 and the strip 87 and said coiled springsurge the parts to the position illustrated in Figure 4 and when thewrenches are separatedthe springs 92 are contracted. The connectionbetween the arcuate strip 87 and the collars is non-positive andconsequently the inner and outer collars may partake of rotation withrelation to each other and they may also move longitudinally withrespect to each other as the wrenches are separated.

In operation the outer parts of the upper and lower holding jaws areswung outwardly andthe wrench is thrown onto the pipe or drill stementirely by one operator and when the inner portions of the jaws or morespecifically the tongues of the same are engaged by the drill stem theouter portions of the jaws are swung inwardly thereby latching theapparatus to the drill stem. The lower handle is now engaged with theupstanding postof the drilling machine so that the operation of thedrilling machine will cause the lower wrench to rotate. When the lowerwrench begins to rotate the upper wrench is engaged with a dead postarranged beyond the drilling machine and the joint then begins to break.This rotation of the handle 58 causes the pairs of gripping members 11and 55 to be securely engaged with the drill stem and when the teethbecome dull the gripping members 11 and 55 may be turned to present newsets of teeth to the work. hen the joint is brokenthe upper wrench isautomatically disengaged or re leased from the pipe section and thelower wrench may be disengaged or released by swinging the handle 76 onits pivot 77 whereupon the latch 7 5 is released.

With reference to the foregoing descrip tion taken in, connection withthe accom--,

panying drawings it will be seen that the improved wrench may be appliedentirely by one person and without danger of the wrench becomingunmanageable or broken.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An apparatusof the class described comprising upper and lower wrenches and meanswhereby the wrenches are slidably and rotatably connected for movementabout and along a common axis.

An apparatus of the class described comprising upper and lower wrenches,means whereby the wrenches are slidably and rotatably connected formovement about and along'a common axis, and gripping de vices carried bythe upper and lower wrenches.

8. An apparatus of the character specified comprising upper and lowerwrenches having interfitting collars, means associated with theinterlitting collars for slidably and rotatably connecting the wrenchesfor move ment about and along a common axis.

A device of the class described comprising upper and lower wrencheshaving gripping means, interlitting collars carried by the wrenches, andinwardly directed retaining member carried by one of the collars, andsprings confined between the retaining member and the terminal portionof one or said collars.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising upper and lowerwrenches having interfitting collars, the sides of which are open forthe reception or a drill stem, means associated with the collars forslidably and rotatably connecting the wrenches, and gripping devicescarried by the wrenches.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising upper and lowerwrenches having interlitting collars, a retaining member carried bytheterminal portion of one of the collars, a flange carried by the othercollar,

and coiled springs confined between said retaining member and saidflange.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising upper and lowerwrenches hav ing interlitting collars, a retaining member carried by theterminal portion of one of the collars, a flange carried by the othercollar, coiled springs confined between said retaining member and saidflange and lugs extending through said coiled springs and said flange.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising upper and lowerwrenches having interfltting collars, a retaining member carried by theterminal portion of one of the collars, a flange carried by the othercollar, coiled springs confined between said retaining member and saidflange and lugs extend ing through said coiled springs andsaid flange,the terminal portion of one of the collars being provided with a flangehaving openings for the reception of said lugs.

'9. An apparatus of the class described comprising upper and lowerprenches, interfitting collars carried by the opposed sides of thewrenches, an arcuate retaining member carried by the terminal portion ofone of the collars, a flange carried by the other collar, a stripmounted on said retaining member and having a plurality of lugs slidablethrough said flange, and coiled springs confined between said flange andsaid strip.

10. A wrench of the character specified comprising a body, r

'ried thereby, a handle having eccentrics connected to said grippingmembers, and a work actuated locking device associated with said handle.

11. An apparatus of the character specitied comprising a body, grippingjaws pivotally carried thereby and having their inner terminal portionscurved for actuation by the drill stem, the outer portions of said jawsbeing provided with locking means, a releasing device for said lockingmeans, a handle connected to said body, and means actuated by the workfor temporarily lockin the handle against swinging.

12. ii. tool comprising a body having work engaging means, a handleswingingly con nected to the body and connected to the worl: engagingmeans for urging the same into gripping engagement with the work, and aspring pressed locking bolt for temporarily locking the handle againstswinging, said bolt being work actuated.

13. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body, holding jawspivotally carried thereby, gripping members carried by said body, andeccentrics for each gripping member, a handle connected to theeccentrics, and work actuated means whereby to temporarily look thehandle to the body or movement therewith.

14. An apparatus of the class specified comprising a body, holding jawscarried thereby, gripping plates carried by said body, and having teeth,eccentrics connected to said plates, a handle connected to saideccentrics, and a drill stem actuated sliding bolt carried by said bodyand having means to engage said handle whereby to lock the handle to thebody.

15. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body, grippingmembers carried thereby, a handle having connection with the body, asliding bolt connected to the body and adapted for engagement by thedrill stem, one end of said sliding bolt being provided with a lugadapted for engagement with the handle whereby to lock the handle to thebody, and a spring urging the sliding bolt to its advanced position. A

16. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body inclusive ofupper and lower plates, holding jaws pivoted intermediate their ends tosaid plates, one of the holding jaws being provided with a recess forthe reception or the terminal portion of the other jaw, a locking latchcarried by the terminal portion of one of the jaws to engage theterminal portion of the other jaw, and a locking lever carried by one ofthe jaws to engage said locking latch.

17. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body inclusive ofupper and lower plates, holding jaws pivoted intermediate their ends tosaid plates, one of the holding jaws being provided with a recess forthe reception of the terminal portion of the other jaw, a locking latchcarried by the terminal portion of one of the jaws to engage theterminal portion of the other jaw, a locking lever carried by one of thejaws to engage said locking latch, and a spring urging said lockinglever to its operative position.

18. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body, holding jawspivoted thereto and having work actuated portions, one of the jaws beingprovided with a recess and the other being providedwvith a reducedportion having a shoulder, a latch pivoted to one of th jaws and adaptedto engage said shoulder, and a handle pivoted to one of said jaws andhaving a cam adapted to engage said latch.

19. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body, work actuatedholding jaws pivoted thereto, one of the jaws being provided with arecess and the other being provided with a reduced portion having ashoulder, a latch pivoted to one of the jaws and adapted to engage saidshoulder, a handle pivoted to one of said jaws and havmg a cam adaptedto engage said latch, and

a spring associated with said handle and urging said cam to one of twopositions.

20. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body, holding jawscarried thereby, a'locking latch pivoted to one of the jaws and adaptedfor engaging the other jaw, a handle pivoted to one of said jaws andhaving a cam adapted to engage said latch, said handle being providedwith a laterally projecting ear, a telescopic barrel connected to one ofsaid jaws and to said ear, Elifld a spring arranged in said telescopic'arre 21. A tool comprising a pair of wrenches having gripping members,and means rotatably and yieldably connecting the wrenches for movementabout and longitudinally of a string of pipe- 22. A tool comprising apair of wrenches having interfitting work receiving members,

and means slidably and rotatably connecting the work receiving members,whereby the wrenches may partake of separate movement about andlongitudinally of the work the connection between the members beingyieldable, and work actuated holding jaws pivoted to the wrenches.

25. A tool comprising a body, a handle swingingly connected thereto, anda work actuated spring pressed locking bolt carried by the body andadapted for temporarily locking the handle against rrtovement withrelation to the body.

GEORGE FRANKLIN LE BUS. FRANKLIN LEYBURN LE BUS.

